Ricochet ball game



. July 31, 1923. I 1,463,726

E. RUTTMANN RICOCHET BALL GAME Filed Aug. 24. 1921 Marne v.

Patented July 31, 1923.

ERNST RUTTMANN, or sru rrrenn'r, GERMANY.

RICOCHET BALL GAIVIE.

Application filed August 24, 1821.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EnNsr RUTTMANN, a citizen of the Republic of Germany, residing at Stuttgart Wurtemberg, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ricochet Ball Games (for which I have filed an application in Germany on April 29, 1919), of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a ball game in which the ball is made to rebound from a surface which has been suddenly stretched. The ends of the surface are fixed to handle levers. lVhen the handlesof the levers are suddenly brought close together the ricochet surface is stretched and throws the ball up.

With the games of this type of known construction the hand levers are arranged so that both hands are required for the manipulation. This is however inconvenient for several reasons. The simultaneous handling of the two levers with both hands requires that the arms be stretched forward so that the jumping for catching the ball is rendered insecure and the player comes frequently to fall.

This invention avoids these inconveniences and permits an elegant playing of the game. This effect is due to the special arrangement and construction of the hingedly connected levers in such a manner that the handles of said levers can be gripped with one hand so that only one hand is occupied when the game is being played. In this manner the game can be played elegantly and gracefully, the free movements of the player being not impeded in the least. The reaching range is thus much larger than when the de vice is held with both hands.

. In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I shall proceed to describe the same with reference to the several forms of construction shown by way of example on the accompanying drawing, wherein Figs. 1, 2, 3, 3" and 4: show each perspectively a separate form of construction.

In the form of construction Fig. 1 the net a is fixed with its longitudinal sides directly on the rods a and (6 These rods ct and a are constructed like double armed hand levers g and terminated by handles 5 which are placed so closely the one to the other that they can be gripped with one hand to be pressed the one against the other. They are pivotably mounted in proximity of the handles Z2 upon bolts 6 of a cross piece 02' Serial No. 94,848.

whose longitudinal sides a are attached to 7 parallel rods a and (4 said rods being supported by handles 9 which correspond with the lower parts 9 of the rods (0 and a of the form of construction shown on Fig. 1. The arrangement is otherwise the same as described with reference to Fig. l.

The form of construction Fig. 3 comprises a triangular net wt whose one side is attached to the rod to. The rod is supported by a rod g. The point of the net end is attached directly to the end a of the hand lever. In this form of construction only the hand lever g to which the point of the net is attached is pivotable around an axle e fixed upon the cross piece (Z projecting from the vertical rod 9.

The form of construction Fig. 3 differs from that Fig. 3 only in sofar that the rod w is curved to a semicircle so that the net it forms a conical trough from which the ball cannot drop out as easily as from the fiat net 72. Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 shows a form of construction which in general is similar to that of Fig. 2. The rods a and a are however bent to til-shape or curved semi-circularly so that when the cloth a is stretched a kind of trough is formed which prevents the ball 0 from dropping out. The cross piece d is divided and each half of the same is fixed to the lower end of one of the levers g, a hinge which connects the two parts of the cross piece cl serving as pivot. The hinge being fixed to the lower edge of (Z, the upper edge of cl acts as a means to limit the coming together of the ends of the levers. Separate handles Z), Z) are fixed one toeach part 03 of the cross piece.

The form and the construction of the ricooheting surface n, of the rods a and c of the hand levers g and the other parts can be modified according to requirement without departing from the idea of the invention.

I claim V l. A device for playing ricochet ball-comprising the combination of two hand-levers, a slack ricocheting surface of mesh material secured at its respective ends to the upper ends of said levers, means for pivotally connecting said levers to each other near their lower ends, handles at the lower ends of said levers, limiting means to prevent the upper ends of the levers coming into too close proximity with each other, and spring means to return the levers to their initial position when the handles are released, the pivotal connecting meansbeing at such distance from the lower ends of the levers that the handles may be gripped with one hand.

2. A device for playing ricochet ball comprising the combination of twohanddevers, a slack ricocheting surface of convenient material secured at its respective ends" to the outer ends of said levers, handles at the lower ends of said levers, a divided crosspiece half of which is secured near the lower end of each lever, means for pivotally connecting the halves of thecross-piece at the lower edge of the same, and spring means to maintain the levers in their initial position when the'handles are released, the divided cross-piece acting as a limiting means to prevent the ends of the levers coming into too close proximity with each other and the cross-piece being located at such dis tance from the lower'ends of the levers that the handles may be gripped with one'hand.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

' ERNST RUTTB IANN.

\Vitnesses:

E. SCHLEICHER, FREDA BLAILIVER. 

